Degrees in Counseling

Aspiring clinical mental health counselors, earn your master’s online from The Family Institute at Northwestern University in as few as 18 months. This CACREP-accredited program offers accelerated, traditional, and part-time tracks. Career-changers welcome. GRE not required.

What is CACREP?

CACREP is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs. Nearly every state requires counselors to have a graduate degree from a CACREP-accredited institution. There are currently 736 counseling programs in the US accredited by CACREP.

Masters in Mental Health Counseling Programs

Masters Degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Since all states require that graduates hold at least a Master's degree in Mental Health Counseling before applying for licensure, this is the most preferred level of education for professionals.

Master's Programs in Mental Health Counseling

Requiring around two years less education than a doctoral degree, it allows for less time in school and more time working in the field. In a master's program, students will find that the curriculum is more major-based and specific. Learn more about Masters in Mental Health Counseling programs.

Classes led by USC Rossier faculty who are experts in school counseling, educational leadership and family therapy.

*Sponsored Counseling Programs

AD

Masters in Mental Health Counseling Programs That May Be Currently Accepting Applicants

Counseling @ Northwestern is a CACREP-accredited online Master of Arts in Counseling Program with accelerated, traditional, and part-time track options. GRE scores are not required, nor is prior counseling experience. You will complete six quarters of supervised clinical field placements, which will prepare you to pursue licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in as few as 18 months.Click for more admissions info.

Prepare to become a mental health counselor – earn your master of arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness online from NYU Steinhardt. The program is MPCAC-accredited and prepares students to pursue state licensure. Complete in as few as 21 months. GRE not required.Click for admissions information.

Earn your Master of Education with a specialization in school counseling online from Vanderbilt University’s top-ranked Peabody College. Prepare for licensure and develop the critical-thinking and social-emotional skills to effectively manage K–12 school counseling programs.Learn more at PeabodyOnline.Vanderbilt.edu

Common Mental Health Degree Course Areas

Assessment and Evaluation in Counseling

Diagnosis of Emotional and Mental Disorders

Group Counseling

Prevention and Intervention in Crisis and Trauma

Human Development

Typical Master’s Level Coursework
Courses include material pertaining to normal and abnormal mental health, introduction to psychological pharmaceuticals, and ever therapy. The in depth programs provided by accredited schools give students experience with the historic and theoretical concepts in psychology as well as introducing new techniques for application.

Students in mental health counseling will work in the classroom and in laboratory settings so that they will fully comprehend the research aspect as well as the application of the different applications of mental health counseling.

Gaining Work Experience
Every state requires that graduate degree holders take part in 1-2 years of supervised work experience, varying state to state. This requirement can be completed after the degree program has been completed or in conjunction with the appropriate degree program. Students must find a licensed mental health counselor that is willing to supervise future mental health counselors in order to complete this requirement.

Resources are available in each state to assist students with finding a licensed professional to work under. This work experience provides future counselors with the necessary expertise needed to work in the field.

Willing acceptance of critique during this supervision period is a positive attribute that professionals should use to better their overall practice.

Preparing for Counseling Licensure

In addition to the educational requirements and work experience, students are also required to pass the state board exam in their respective state as a last step to becoming licensed. These exams are designed to test different aspects within their specialization in order to guarantee that the licensees going through the program meet the state’s standards for practice with the public.

CACREP Accredited Programs

CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs) is the top accrediting board for counseling programs. Below, you will find a list of all of the CACREP accredited counseling programs in .

AD

Masters in Mental Health Counseling Programs That May Be Currently Accepting Applicants

Still Looking for a Counseling Degree?

Here are some of the most popular online counseling programs. On each page you will find a detailed writeup of the program, specific courses, and schools that offer that program that are currently accepting applicants.